A Pretty Good Weekend for Butterflies (ID Needed)
First of all, we now have not one, but two Monarch butterflies making multiple daily appearances.
I’ve seen them flying close together, though perhaps one is pursuing the other. I’ve tried to advise them that they’re not getting any younger and they should get busy and lay some eggs. Not sure if they listened, though.
Judy got some more pictures of one of the Monarchs feeding on the Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa).
Lots of Red Admirals around. They seem to like Marigolds (Tagetes patula), which I didn’t know.
Also, they LOVE ‘Summer Beauty’ Alliums.
Like other Alliums, ‘Summer Beauty’ is adored by lots of pollinators. Here’s a butterfly that was practically glued to the lavender blue flowers. Does anybody know who this guy is?
Here’s another view of the same butterfly. Maybe some kind of Fritillary?
There was another butterfly I didn’t recognize flying around the garden, but it was so hyperactive Judy could get only the blurriest of photos.
Seen any new butterflies around your garden?
gardeninacity 
These are great photos of the butterflies! I’m probably wrong on this, but it looks like a painted lady….
I think you’re right about it being a painted lady.
Painted lady?
Sent from my iPhone
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Yes, I think you’re right.
It’s got the raggedy-edged wings of a comma but the underwing does look like a painted lady. Could just be a tatty specimen, hence the wing shape? Your alliums are lovely. 🙂
A tatty specimen, I think. I love those Alliums, first year they are blooming for me.
I am not seeing butterflies for the third year in a row, but yesterday while walking I saw one and was so excited I’m surprised the home owners didn’t call 911 about the crazy lady stalking their sidewalk garden. 🙂
I’m sure the cops would be understanding if they arrived on the scene.
I’d say it is an American Painted Lady. Lucky you to have two Monarchs now…fingers crossed more shall arrive to your garden. Enjoy all your butterflies!
Judy says she saw the Monarchs mating yesterday, so fingers crossed on both hands.
Oh, Jason, such great photos. I hope they heard your stern talking-to. I spent some time at the TransCanada Trail me yesterday, with my camera focused for a shot of some milk weed, but no monarch graced my presense. I’m going to try again today (maybe when it clouds over a bit), as we have a big patch of it down the road. Cheers!
Good hunting!
I have never seen a Monarch, they are wonderful. Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome. I don’t think they can be found outside North America. Maybe one day you will visit and see them in a garden.
By the way, I am really liking my wordpress blog. It makes it much easier for me to see and comment on the blogs I follow, plus I get an automatic message when you reply to me on your own blog. The only way I could find to do that before was to ‘sign up’ to receive replies but then I got all the replies of other people and that just filled up my inbox. This is good.
WordPress is the only platform I’ve used and I’m pretty satisfied with it.
Ditto on the ragged Painted Lady. I have had Black Swallowtails in my garden in all stages. Fun.
I’m jealous. Where are all “my” Swallowtails?
You have some beautiful butterfly visitors and the photos really are lovely. I think the last one is American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis). We’ve had more butterflies this summer or maybe I’m just paying more attention.
Hooray for the monarchs and the other butterflies visiting your garden! And, thanks for the great photos. I ordered several different kinds of allium (from Scheepers) a couple of weeks ago but don’t think “Summer Beauty” was among them. A pity, since they appear to be a butterfly magnet. Next year. . .
Scheeper’s doesn’t carry ‘Summer Beauty’ which is a big oversight on their part. I do see it now at some local garden centers.
Such lovely pictures! Also, your gardens and the butterflies they attract are very inspiring.
Lovely photos, as always. Thank you for providing for them!! I have lots of little skippers and such. The big, bodacious butterflies are drifting through, but not hanging out much. Hmmm. wonder why??
Hard to say, do they hang around most years?
Congrats on “all” the Monarchs – I actually have had one but it won’t sit still for a picture unless I don’t have my camera. I think butterflies have been late this year but yesterday I had four species (I had what I thought was a comma too but didn’t get a picture of it) so maybe it’s the crazy weather. Red Admirals most numerous everywhere and hardly any Cabbage Whites, very unlike last year. Great photos!
I agree that the butterflies seem to be late. Four species in one day is a great!
Great pics!
Thanks!
I vote for Painted Lady as the mystery butterfly. I haven’t seen any monarchs here yet but I thought I caught a glimpse of a tiger swallowtail from a window the other day. There are many cabbage whites, and also TONS (if that word can properly be used when applied to butterflies, LOL) of some kind of large mottled-brown day-flying moth, all over the place. They are somewhat larger than a cabbage white; perhaps twice the size of a skipper. They are very active, constantly flying hither and yon everywhere around the garden and house perimeter. I saw several resting beneath the porch roof the other day, which is when I saw the antennae which definitely ID them as moths.
There are some interesting moths out there.
Just beautiful, there’s nothing like attracting butterflies to one’s garden.
I find it exciting and a real pleasure – so I agree.
We’ve seen some new-to-us butterflies this summer. I’m hoping it’s a result of some thoughtful planting. I’m hopeless at ID, so they must remain nameless other than the painted lady, many tiger swallowtails and a lone monarch. Your incognito visitor with the subtle orange coloring is my fave so far.
Glad you’re seeing butterflies in your garden. A garden is lonely without butterflies.
It is such a gift to see them and your photos are just stunning Jason! Look at all of those butterflies paying you a visit! Wishing you an outstanding week! Nicole
Thanks, Nicole. Of course, Judy deserves credit for the photos.
I’m seeing quite a few butterflies but still no monarchs. I’m glad you’re seeing some.
Me too. Maybe the Monarchs will show up in August.
Beautiful pictures of your butterflies. Your unknown butterfly appears to be an American Lady
(Vanessa virginiensis). There’s a really good website called “Butterflies and Moths of North America” where you can input your location, down to your county, and get a list of all the butterflies in your area as well as identifying pictures. I’ve discovered the identities of a lot of my visiting butterflies on this site.
It is a great website, I was just being lazy and hoping that someone would just tell me the ID.
Lovely butterfly shots. Your butterflies are all gorgeous, specially the monarchs.
I wish! but no butterflies in this shady garden. Birds will have to do for me. Love your photos. The Monarchs look like you could reach out and touch them.
I wish I could, but they are very skittish.
I saw a monarch in the fields near my home but haven’t seen any in the garden. But the heat index has been 105+ so I’ve been staying inside more than usual and may have missed them. But how fabulous to have seen them in the garden!
Argh, at 105 I would turn into a pile sweat-soaked clothes.
Glad you have two Monarchs. I may have seen one, but not sure. I have seen plenty of red admirals, and before that, plenty of the yellow and black swallowtails.
Last week I also saw a black and dark-blue one over by the herb bed. It was large and stunning.
I’m hoping for Monarchs.
I hope the Monarchs visit you, and the Swallowtails give me a visit as well.
Me too! It sounds like a blessing.
That ‘Summer Beauty’ Allium seems popular with the pollinators of all types. How fun to have so many butterflies visiting your garden. We’re just starting to see quite a few here, too. The Red Admirals have been plentiful all summer, but it’s great to see others increasing in numbers, too. Enjoy!
I’m really happy with ‘Summer Beauty’, can’t wait for it to spread.
I think it is an American Painted Lady. They used to be more common, as common as Red Admiral, but I haven’t seen one in some time.
I don’t know that I’ve seen it in my garden before. I noted that one of its hosts is ironweed, which I have in the Driveway Border.
Wonderful butterfly activity in your garden, awesome to see!
Thanks! It’s fun but also kind of reassuring.
Glad to see those monarchs sticking around. They must like it there! Still none around here yet I’m noticing more milkweed than ever…
The allium doesn’t seen as popular here. Not sure why. Maybe I just need more 🙂
Obviously!
So excited you finally have monarchs! Your patience has paid off. Hope you have babies very soon.
I’m keeping my eyes open.
A very healthy garden and nature thanks you!
And her thanks are very gratifying.
Pretty combination -Red Admiral and tagetes, Jason! I love all your photos.
They do go well together, don’t they?
It is a Painted Lady. They are not so common here either. Glad you are seeing the Monarchs. We have quite a few this year. Swamp milkweed will be having chewed leaves soon.
The chewed leaves arr a small price to pay.
I’d agree if that is all, but the lily buds are all browned, rotted and not making the bloom opening stage. Some stalks/stems are stripped clean to the ground. I hope it does not come your way, but reports are showing it get more widespread. Neem oil is not even effective by cases I have seen.
Fingers-crossed for your two Monarchs getting together. Great photos.
Thanks!
TWO monarchs? What fantastic news! Here’s to lots of eggs being laid…..lovely to see happy feeding flutterby’s, I would have said a painted lady too….your planting is reaping it’s rewards, and it’s so lovely to see that.xxx
Have you ever noticed that sometimes they are called Painted Ladies, and sometimes just Ladies? I guess Painted Ladies are too risque, even if just butterflies.
Fabulous to see all the butterflies in your garden
They make me happy.